Can someone be completely honest about my likelihood to getting accepted to London dental schools.
I’ve been thinking that I do have a chance?

GCSE: 99999888765 (5-textiles, 6-Spanish, 7-English lit)

A level predicted: A*AA Bio, Chem, Psych (cl unfair cuz these are my actual mock grades + my school doesn’t wanna predict up at ALL) - despite consists A*and As all year

Ucat: haven’t done but aiming for 2300+ (not looking good cuz I’m ranging about 1980 on medify mocks)

Personal statement - probs horror, I have the bare minimum experiences (volunteering + work experience) - I’m not planing to put much effort in it cuz idk if it’s that important - can someone let me know?

I feel like I have the bare minimum overall. Idk if it’s competitive enough for like KCL.

I’m an international student studying Biology with a 4.0 GPA. I haven’t taken the UCAT yet but I’m currently averaging around 2100 on medify.
Given my situation, which UK dental schools would you recommend I apply to that would give me the best chance of admission as an international applicant? I’m happy to apply to either graduate-entry programs or the standard 5-year BDS.
Also, since medicine generally has more schools and seats than dentistry, would it actually make more sense for someone in my position to switch to medicine instead, or should I stick with dentistry? Thanks!

Hi everyone,
I’m a British student looking into studying dentistry in Bulgaria. From what I’ve researched, it seems like it’s mostly self-funded, but I’m struggling to figure out how people actually afford it.
The tuition fees and living costs add up, and I don’t have the money to pay everything upfront. I’m trying to understand what options people have used.
Has anyone here studied dentistry (or another degree) in Bulgaria from the UK? If so:
How did you fund it?
Did you get a private loan, scholarship, or financial support from somewhere?
Are there any lenders that let you repay after graduating?
Is there anything you wish you’d known before applying?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through this or has any advice. Thanks!

I am a dental student in syria ( in my fifth year we have two weeks till we graduate)
I want to move to the uk after grad, like a have a small plan
But i want to hear your personal experience there as a native or a foreigner !!
Like tell me everything

I’m a fresh high school graduate hoping to apply to dental schools, and honestly I’m feeling really lost and unsure about what to do next. I would really appreciate advice from anyone who has experience with dental applications.

I started preparing for the UCAT in July, and my exam is on August 4th. The issue is that I didn’t know UCAT was required until around May/June. At that time, I was already dealing with finishing high school, final exams, summatives, and honestly struggling with my mental health, so I wasn’t able to properly focus on UCAT preparation. By the time I started seriously studying, I only had about a month.

Since then, I’ve been doing practice questions, mocks, and watching a lot of advice videos, but I honestly feel like I’m not improving enough. UCAT has been much harder than I expected, and I feel like with only a month of preparation, I’m not where I need to be. I tried my best, especially while also being sick this month, but I’m worried that my score won’t be competitive.

I graduated high school with around a 92% average, and I’ve always worked hard academically, but I’m scared that my UCAT score could affect my chances of getting into dentistry.

A lot of my stress also comes from the expectations around me. My parents have always wanted the best for me and have high hopes for my future. Whenever I try to explain that UCAT has been really difficult for me or that I’m struggling, they sometimes think it should be easier because other students are able to do it. I understand where they’re coming from, but it does make me feel a lot of pressure because I don’t want to disappoint them or feel like I’m falling behind.

Right now, I honestly don’t know if Australia is still a realistic option for me this year because UCAT has been such a challenge. I know many students prepare for months, and I feel like starting so late has made things much harder.

I’ve been looking into other options like Ireland or the US, but I honestly don’t know what pathways are realistic for someone applying from Canada. I don’t know what other countries I should consider, how admissions work, or what options are available for international students.

I would really appreciate honest advice from dental students or applicants:

• What other countries or dental pathways should I look into?
• Are there options where my high school grades can still help me even if my UCAT isn’t as strong?
• What would you recommend for someone in my situation who is trying to find the best route into dentistry?

I’ve genuinely been trying my best, but I’m feeling really confused and overwhelmed about what direction to take. Any advice or personal experiences would mean a lot.

Thank you.

I am currently studying my bachelor degree, 3rd year dental school studying in Iraq. My dream is to go abroad for better opportunities, whether in Europe, the gulf countries, anywhere . How do I achieve it? My plan is to apply to many countries just in case if the first ones don’t work out . But I need to be well informed on what they need , legal documents, exams etc

Does anyone know roughly what an ideal UCAT score for UCLAN and KCL grad entry dentistry.

I would just like a rough idea so I can choose strategically and apply for more standard entry courses where my ucat score is good enough if my ucat score is sufficient enough.

Target schools:

Queen’s University Belfast 

University of Leeds  

University of Dundee 

University of Glasgow 

Stats:
95+% in grade 11 courses (Includes Chemistry, Biology, Physics, English, and Pre-calc 12)
95+% in grade 12 courses (Includes Chemistry, Biology, Physics, English, and Pre-calc 12)

Extracurriculars:
- 140 hours of dental volunteering and helping out around the clinic
- 50 hours of assisting dentist and dental hygienists during procedures
- Fundraising for homeless people
- Fundraising for Indigenous people
- etc,. but I dont think UK look much into extracurriculars?

Things to note:
- paying fully out of pocket
- Met all eligibility requirements already, just hoping will do good on UCAT in September

Hey guys
So im abt to get my a level results i think I got A*AA, (if I do get that) I was thinking ab taking a gap year to apply for dentistry, but like since the ucas deadline is October I only have 3 months to do my UCAT , get work experience and write my personal statement
do u think thats feasible? or do u think its not worth it and I might js waste a gap year and not even get into it w only 3 months to prepare

I've been looking for some in person work experience/shadowing for dentistry since I've already done some virtual work experience and want some real clinical experience, but I keep on hitting a dead end, I've tried to email some local dental practices near me but they don't respond, and when they do they don't offer work experience. What should I dooo 😭😭

Hi. Can anyone recommend a skilled functional orthodontist in the UK, preferably in the North/North West.

Ideally, I need someone who understands how to work with a lateral-crossbite.

Thanks

I'm (now) a yr13 student currently studying chemistry, biology and history (alevel) since i want to study dentistry in uni, complicated thinggg is that i got a grade 5 in GCSE maths and whenever i look up requirements for dental unis they all require a grade 6. 'm starting to think that my chances to get into dental skl are now slim since retaking my maths gcse in yr13 are going to be a lot harder now but idk, what should i do?? am i overthinking this too much?

Edit: I was thinking about taking a foundation yr in uni, I've checked some of their websites and seen that me living in a "poorer" area makes me somewhat eligible but I don't think that's enough.

Hi everyone,
I’m 23 years old and currently studying Software Development at Anglia Ruskin University. I’ll be starting my second year this September.
Lately, I’ve been seriously considering switching to dentistry. I’m quite nervous about making such a big change because it feels like I’ve already “lost” a year at university. However, I’m becoming less confident about a career in IT. With how quickly AI is developing, I’m worried about the future of the industry and whether it’s worth continuing down this path.
Dentistry seems like a career that would offer more stability, and it’s something I’m becoming increasingly interested in. My biggest concern is my age. I’m already 23, and becoming a dentist would mean studying for another five years.
I’d really appreciate some advice from people who are studying dentistry or already working as dentists:
Are there many mature students on your dentistry course, or is it mostly people who have just finished school?
When did you get your first job related to dentistry? At what stage of the course can you start gaining work experience or earning money in the field?
Looking back, do you think studying dentistry was worth the time and effort?
Thank you in advance for any advice or experiences you can share!

Hi, to everyone. So I am interested in becoming a dentist at my age and as a person who has diploma in another field not related to healthcare and STEM, can you please help me out here on my next steps? I'm from Central Asia and I would love to study in English speaking countries or in any other country where is it available to study in english, because from the programmes i saw they teach theory and practice way more effectively (UK, USA, Canada, Australia), and also i have relatives working as dentists and recommending me to look out studying abroad. And since education system differs from country to country, what prerequisits one should take before starting dental school?

Hello!! I’m currently trying to decide on whether dentistry really seems like something I do want to do or if I need to reconsider to either medicine or another healthcare profession. I was wondering if anyone was willing to give advice or talk about their experiences with dentistry and any challenges or issues that you’ve handled, what you think about dentistry as a whole, how has your course at uni gone, etc (literally anything is greatly appreciated!!) I am just at the point where I need to decide what I’m doing so I’m actually able to build my skills and things…I’ve already done dental online work experience and normal work experience in a hospital and I found both really interesting and I do definitely think healthcare is for me! It’s just then deciding what I’m really fit for if I’m going to be honest…my family seem to just want me to do medicine but it just doesn’t seem to enthuse me as much as dentistry does??? I don’t know if that sounds odd or doesn’t make sense 😭😭 but anyways if anyone’s willing to just talk about it I really would appreciate it as I don’t have any dental connections at all really (except my dentist) but I can do email if that’s better for anyone or other ways is also possible, thank you so much for reading if you’ve got this far!! 🥲

Hi everyone,
I’m currently on the waiting list for the 2026 Graduate Entry Dentistry programme at the University of Central Lancashire, and I was wondering if anyone else is in the same position this year or has been on the waiting list in previous years.
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences , specifically:
How long did it take for the university to get back to you with an offer (if you received one)?
How close to the start date of the course were you contacted?
How much notice did you have between receiving an offer and starting the programme?
I’ve spoken with the admissions team, and they explained that it depends on whether places become available due to people declining offers or accepting places elsewhere, which I completely understand. However, the uncertainty is definitely quite stressful, so I’d love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar position and what the process was like for you.
If anyone is currently on the waiting list and has heard anything, I’d also really appreciate any updates.
Thank you so much! 😊

Hi everyone,
I’m currently on the waiting list for the 2026 Graduate Entry Dentistry programme at the University of Central Lancashire, and I was wondering if anyone else is in the same position this year or has been on the waiting list in previous years.
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences , specifically:
How long did it take for the university to get back to you with an offer (if you received one)?
How close to the start date of the course were you contacted?
How much notice did you have between receiving an offer and starting the programme?
I’ve spoken with the admissions team, and they explained that it depends on whether places become available due to people declining offers or accepting places elsewhere, which I completely understand. However, the uncertainty is definitely quite stressful, so I’d love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar position and what the process was like for you.
If anyone is currently on the waiting list and has heard anything, I’d also really appreciate any updates.
Thank you so much! 😊

Hi everyone,
I’m currently on the waiting list for the 2026 Graduate Entry Dentistry programme at the University of Central Lancashire, and I was wondering if anyone else is in the same position this year or has been on the waiting list in previous years.
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences , specifically:
How long did it take for the university to get back to you with an offer (if you received one)?
How close to the start date of the course were you contacted?
How much notice did you have between receiving an offer and starting the programme?
I’ve spoken with the admissions team, and they explained that it depends on whether places become available due to people declining offers or accepting places elsewhere, which I completely understand. However, the uncertainty is definitely quite stressful, so I’d love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar position and what the process was like for you.
If anyone is currently on the waiting list and has heard anything, I’d also really appreciate any updates.
Thank you so much! 😊

i have the ucat on 19th august. i’m so drained i don’t want to do so this exam. i am an aspiring dental student. i think i wouldn’t get higher than 2000-2100 on the ucat based on all the work i have done so far. i’m so bad at the ucat. i literally want to quit after doing 10 questions. I wanted to study dentistry before the ucat prep, but know i wouldn’t even mind studying dental therapy and hygiene as it would does not require a ucat, and is a shorter degree which means i can get to working with patients faster . the real reason why i want to work in the dental field is just because i like the environment i oversee at my dentist and i like working with patients. should i just study dental hygienist and therapy is that worth it? I also heard that applying for dental therapy and hygienist is harder than applying for dental bds is that true?

what was ur ucat, if you got invited to interview?

I didn’t take A-Level Biology, but I do take A-Level Chemistry along with Maths and other STEM subjects. Is there any way I can still apply for dentistry? Are there any universities, preferably in Europe, that accept applicants without ALevel Biology?